Definition of curiousnext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective curious contrast with its synonyms?

The words inquisitive and prying are common synonyms of curious. While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

When could inquisitive be used to replace curious?

The words inquisitive and curious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

When is prying a more appropriate choice than curious?

The synonyms prying and curious are sometimes interchangeable, but prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of curious But now, the curious will be greeted by a short, looped video of Stone in a tight close-up, straining to smile and appear pleasant. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026 What & Why Rhode Island digs into this curious bit of beach trivia. Kathleen Hill, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026 On Wednesday, Church authorities ordered the face covered and replaced, and crowds of photographers and curious onlookers gathered to watch the new work, which had become for the moment a faceless cherub. Camilla Alcini, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2026 Granli’s curious new album Rosacea has a nebulous atmosphere all its own. H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for curious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curious
Adjective
  • There, Arco finds an inquisitive ally in Iris (Romy Fay), a girl his age, but with a different experience growing up.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Caretakers describe him as social, inquisitive and highly intelligent.
    Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • In a strange twist, the Max app was developed by VKontakte (VK), which Durov co-founded before selling his shares and leaving Russia in 2014, after Durov said the Kremlin had asked the site to hand over Ukrainian users’ data.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Paul, the polarizing boxer, has been no stranger to showing emotion.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • That unusual role for a spy chief raised additional questions from Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees.
    DAVID KLEPPER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
  • What was unusual, in Lublin’s view, was for Bessent to reveal his thoughts on monetary policy — normally the purview of the Federal Reserve — and his insistence that Trump has the right to interfere with the decision-making of the central bank.
    Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Together, the properties suggest an investor interested not just in impressive homes, but in places with lasting cultural imprint.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Bella was more interested in the chatter around the film.
    Rachel Handler, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Having stabilized his ship in orbit around the black hole, Dr Hans Reinhardt (a bizarre, OTT performance from Maximilian Schell) now plans to fly into it, assisted by an unquestioning crew of automatons with a very dark origin story.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026
  • That's bizarre to me, especially those two.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Ravel also offers 24-hour room service—another feature that’s uncommon on river vessels.
    Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Aside from the power of the recovery story and the uncommon wit and frankness of the book, Estefan just has so many hits, recorded over a career that spanned decades, and they’re cleverly slotted into the story.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying -- and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
    Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
  • But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
    Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • From the other side of the window the guard is giving me funny kine looks.
    Jasmin 'Iolani Hakes, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
  • But history, which has a funny way of repeating itself, suggests otherwise.
    Stephen Mihm, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curious. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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